From a Medical Perspective Blog Entries

  1. Mindfulness: Mind-Body Therapy

    Learn How Mindfulness Mind-Body Therapy Can Help Pediatric Cancer Patients

    By: Rachel Baumann, M.A.
    Emily Winter, M.A., S.Y.C., N.C.S.P.

    Mindfulness can help pediatric cancer patients
    “Visualize Your Favorite Place to Be” is a great grounding exercise to use during moments of stress or anxiety.

    What is mindfulness? How does it work? And, how exactly does it relate to cancer care for pediatric patients?

    Mindfulness is a mind-body form of therapy that connects physical health to mental well-being.  It’s a technique in which an individual strives to remain in the present moment, not worried about the future, nor dwelling in the past. Mindfulness helps children (and adults!) remain focused on what is happening in the present: cognitively and emotionally, as well as keeping individuals tuned into their senses. (1)  

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  2. RACE for Children Act – Raising Hope

    “RACE for Children Act” is raising hope for new therapies for pediatric cancer. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal discusses exciting trials that are occurring as a result of the RACE. According to the article, many pharmaceutical companies are already gearing up for more studies.  As a result, some pediatric trails may be as early as this year!

    Crystal Mackall, researcher and professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, told The Wall Street Journal, “We have lots of drug companies who want to speak with us suddenly. Before, we went hat in hand, cajoling.”  And, Dr. Hubert Caron of Roche Pharmaceuticals called the legislation “a game-changer.”

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  3. The Benefit Of A Mikey’s Way Gift

    Thoughts From a Child Life Specialist

    Mikey's Way CartAs the child life specialist for the past 4 years in outpatient oncology, bone marrow transplant and hematology, I have worked with children who clearly benefit from the generosity of Mikey’s Way.  Mikey’s Way has helped kids keep up with school work by providing a laptop, has helped kids isolated because of treatment connect with their friends socially and virtually while hospitalized.  I have witnessed kids swept up by videos and imagine going to far away places they’d like to visit once treatment is over.  Children have used these electronics to play games to help distract them through procedures, to watch streaming movies, to write their journals.  read more →

  4. Immunotherapy – new promise for some patients

    According to the American Cancer Society, in the last 10 years, there’s been a lot of progress in the treatment of childhood cancers. Since the mid-1970s, survival rates have increased from 60% to 90% for certain cancers.

    Many pediatric cancer patients respond well to standard treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.  But for some children treatment stops working and for others, standard treatments are not effective, leaving few other treatment options for these children. read more →

  5. Mind-Body Medicine

    The implications of psychoneuroimmunology cover the length and breadth of medical research.

    Over the last few decades, the prevalent links between neuroscience and the immune system have grown into an interdisciplinary area of study known as psychoneuroimmunology which explores the influence of the mind on the body’s immune system. read more →

  6. Children will no longer be left behind in the advancement of new cancer treatments!

    RACE for Children Act Becomes Law!

    On Friday, August 18, 2017, the RACE for Children Act became law, ensuring that novel and exciting new cancer drugs will now be developed not only for adults, but also for children with cancer!

    One of the most significant challenges for pediatric cancer research has been the lack of access to novel and exciting new drugs.  Cancer research has made tremendous strides over the years resulting in new cancer treatments for adults, but these seldom translate into new treatments for kids. Because of this, pediatric cancer patients received out-dated and often old treatments.

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